This weekend the Spanish First League schedules the matches of the 24th matchday, a stage in which some interesting and important matches are scheduled at the same time. The Spanish press is still commenting on the historic success of modest Almería against the titans of FC Barcelona in the previous round! Barcelona could not take advantage of the draw in the Madrid derby, Real Madrid – Atlético Madrid 1-1, so the Catalans’ lead over the Spanish champions remains a recoverable one, seven points.
The long-distance duel between Barcelona and Real Madrid continues this weekend. The former will play at home to relegation-threatened Valencia, who are apparently on the rebound after a narrow 1-0 win over leaders Real Sociedad. It was Valencia’s first win with Rubén Baraja on the bench. Brought in to save what Gennaro Gattuso had ruined, the former Valencia legend brought a new lease of life to the team. Barcelona escaped a stress, the Europa League, from which they were eliminated by Manchester United and can focus on the La Liga title fight.
It promises to be quite a duel at the Estadio Benito Villamarín in Seville, where Real Betis and Real Madrid, the second and the fifth-placed teams will meet this weekend. For the team coached by the respected Manuel Pellegrini, the match against Real Madrid is a real maturity test. Betis is still dreaming of the UEFA Champions League, which seems more like a fairytale for the Andalusian team. Betis have excellent morale after three consecutive wins. Unfortunately, Betis have lost one of their best men, seriously injured, Nabil Fekir, untill the end of the season. Real Madrid have only won 5 matches against Betis in their last 11 meetings with the other 6 matches being three Betis wins and three draws.
After the draw at the Santiago Bernabéu, fourth-placed Atlético Madrid will play at home to 14th-placed Sevilla, a team that has failed to recover, one win, one draw and two defeats in the last four rounds.
At Vallecas in Madrid, two teams that have forgotten how to win in the last few rounds will face each other. Sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano, with just two points from their last three games, are visited by ninth-placed Athletic Bilbao, without a point in their last two games. Rayo have just one win in their last seven games with Bilbao as hosts.
Still on the La Liga podium, despite a poor run in the last five rounds (one win, two draws, two defeats), Real Sociedad will play at home to lowly Cádiz, a team that has lately alternated defeats and wins. The last seven meetings between the two teams have been won by Real Sociedad!
